And while there is a dispute over whether such public scorn is reserved for conservative Christians – evangelicals say it is, moderates and liberals say it isn’t – they also agree the Long situation is just the latest example of a society that loves to gloat over disgraced public figures.

Sadie Fields, an Atlanta-based political consultant and former head of the conservative Georgia Christian Alliance, said Long should be treading the exemplary path he’s been telling others to follow. Still, she finds it disturbing how viciously his enemies and critics have assailed him before his day in court.

“If there’s a flaw to be found it is this kind of piling on and salacious delight” people take in others’ failures, Fields said. “It’s a sad commentary on human nature that people find satisfaction in other people’s pain.”

If there is one point in the piece where you know the reporter, Jeff Brumley, blows any credibility of this meme, it’s when he goes to Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel for comment.

But others say the criticism is fueled by ideology.

“There is a double standard by the media … against pro-family, Christian or conservative individuals,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel, an Orlando-based legal ministry that supports conservative causes.

…Whenever a conservative “falls they pile on them and try to use that human failure to discredit the underlying message,” Staver said, in this case opposition to gay rights.

Um. It does discredit it, Mat. Opposing views are in the article as well, but doesn’t address the fact that these hypocrites, with their messages of hate from their own closets have negatively affected so many lives, and in many cases these exposed closet cases were in positions of authority and power to brainwash their flock with homophobia or legislate against LGBTs. Pam’s House Blend – Front Page

Let’s hope someone at the Pentagon — and the White House — is listening:

The day after the U.S. Air Force agreed to temporarily block the discharge of Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, Rep. Barney Frank is asking [pdf] the U.S. Air Force secretary to put an end to discharge proceedings altogether.

Frank writes, “Under any circumstances, the decision to discharge Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach would be not only completely unfair, but a distortion of The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Now that we have agreement among The President, The House and the Senate Armed Services Committee that the policy should be abolished, it would be an unbelievable travesty of justice to discharge him. I strongly urge you to end the proceedings against Lt. Col. Fehrenbach.”

End the proceedings against Fehrenbach and every other servicemember facing discharge under DADT.

Here’s an idea: Instead of bitching about bloggers, the White House LGBT liaison Brian Bond should be working to prevent this “unbelievable travesty.” That would be a productive use of his time. And, at this point, if Fehrenbach gets discharged, it’s Obama’s responsibility.